Ask a Warden
What Does TPWD Do to Stop Wildlife Crime?
Wei-Wei Lin serves as a game warden in the Hill Country after holding posts in Dallas/Fort Worth, the Gulf Coast and South Texas. She was often featured on the TV show “Lone Star Law.” She is happy to answer your questions about the Texas outdoors.
Q: Hello Wei-Wei! I am very passionately against poaching and illegal hunting. What is TPWD doing to combat wildlife crime and is there anything I can do to help? ?
A: Great question! TPWD has a program specifically dedicated to these issues: Operation Game Thief (OGT). It's Texas' wildlife crime-stoppers program that partners with Texas game wardens. The privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization was created in 1981 as a result of laws passed by the 67th Legislature. The organization spreads awareness of wildlife crimes and prevents poaching activities. Funding for the program comes from memberships, annual fundraisers, sale of merchandise, donations, sponsorships and gifts.
If you have ever attended an outdoor recreational event or the Texas State Fair, you may have seen one of the recognizable OGT trailers showcasing the “Wall of Shame.” The trailers display wildlife that fell victim to illegal hunting and detail how game wardens prosecuted the offenders. Many of those cases were possible thanks to information reported to the OGT hotline.
The 24/7 hotline, (800) 792-GAME (4263), allows anyone to report wildlife crimes under anonymity. The program distributes paid rewards for information that results in conviction of a crime. Since its inception, OGT has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to individuals reporting wildlife crimes.
As the state's only conservation law enforcement agency, we request that you report any wildlife crimes directly to the OGT hotline. Reports are routed directly to wardens in your area for investigation. Please do not report a possible crime through social media platforms. Game warden and law enforcement social media accounts are not official channels for communication and are not monitored for crime reporting. In most cases, the person reading your social media message is not law enforcement.
One of the best ways to support OGT is through the Clay Stoppers fundraisers held across the state. Throughout my career as a Texas game warden, I have made it a priority to participate in OGT and Texas Parks and Wildlife target shooting events. Before I became a game warden, I never even shot clays! Over the years, these events helped me discover my passion for target shooting and find fellowship from the sport. Your level of experience doesn't matter because these events allow wing and target shooters to compete on a team while also having the opportunity to participate in raffles, win trophies and enjoy great food.
Many Texas game wardens attend these fundraisers. It's a great opportunity to meet your local wardens and other target shooting enthusiasts. It's fun for everyone!
I recently had the opportunity to compete on an OGT shooting team. Participating on a team of game wardens has been a dream of mine since I was a rookie fresh out of the academy. After almost 11 years, the dream is now a reality! To my surprise, I also achieved the highest shooting score among the female competitors — and won a pretty cool belt buckle. I am thankful to all our conservationists and outdoor recreators who have shown support for Operation Game Thief and the vital service it provides for Texans.
The clay shooting events are held annually in Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin (Dripping Springs) and Houston. For more information on how to participate in an event or to donate, please check out the OGT website (www.OGTTX.org ) and follow them on social media.
If you have even a slight interest in shooting sports, I highly recommend you attend an OGT Clay Stoppers event and visit the official TPWD shooting sports website to learn more (tpwd.texas.gov/shooting-sports).
Until next time. Stay safe, y'all!
Have a question for the game warden? Email us at magazine@tpwd.texas.gov and we will pass it along to Wei-Wei.
